Wanted: Buyers; rewards offered

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, several retailers have sweetened the deals on their rewards cards and loyalty programs. The goal: to cater to the deal addiction of cash-strapped customers.

Toys R Us recently announced it was tripling its Rewards R Us program, offering 10 percent back on purchases made in stores or online through Christmas Eve.

Target's RED card program is upping its ante to 5 percent back on merchandise.

GameStop, a leading video game retailer, has unleashed its Power Up Rewards program, a first for the company.

"Retailers are looking to their loyalty initiatives as a potential way to increase sales and increase foot traffic to their stores leading up to and through the holiday season," said Dennis Armbruster, vice president of LoyaltyOne, a company that develops loyalty programs for Fortune 1000 clients including Toys R Us, JCPenney and Best Buy.

GameStop rolled out its Power Up Rewards program after positive consumer tests in the summer, said Mike Hogan, senior vice president of marketing for the Grapevine, Texas, company. Aiming for those seeking immediate gratification, GameStop's program gives customers benefits before they even buy anything.

Members can choose between the free version of the program or paying $14.99 to join Power Up Pro. The paid rewards card offers more year-round deals and discounts than the free version, such as 10 percent off on used games and a free subscription to Game Informer magazine.

Among the prizes that can eventually be obtained are a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops signed by the developer, insider visits to game development studios, and credits to buy content on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

Some retailers also use their rewards programs to bolster relationships with suppliers or brands. Kmart is bolstering its Shop Your Way Rewards programs by offering 10 reward points for every dollar spent on certain brands.

"If a store rewards you for shopping, they may reward you even more for buying a specific brand," Armbruster said.

Shoppers will find that there's often a catch. For instance, the 10 percent Toys R Us rebates are paid in — what else? — "R Us Dollars" that can be spent only at the toy retailer. Still, it triples the program's usual offering of 5 R Us Dollars for every $150 spent during select periods.

To get the most out of rewards programs, experts advise that you look for online promotions and programs offered through cards you already have, such as credit cards or frequent-flier cards. And shoppers should pay attention to reward expiration dates so they don't spend in vain.

As savvy as retailers are about getting customers to spend more, consumer expectations are pushing companies to go beyond the typical reward of a 3 percent to 5 percent rebate on purchases.

Britt Beemer, marketing strategist and founder of America's Research Group, said some stores were struggling to keep up with the demand. His company's recent Consumer Mind Reader survey found that 74 percent of shoppers are more "sale-driven" then ever before.